Michael Bell to take wraps off Missunited's first foal

The sole newcomer in the first division of the EBF Stallions Oath Restricted Maiden Stakes (2.30) over an extended mile at Nottingham on Wednesday is none other than the first foal out of firm fan favourite Missunited.

Trained by Michael Bell, the two-year-old Sea The Stars colt Eagles By Day will be ridden by Jamie Spencer.

Missunited, a daughter of Golan, marked herself out as one of the most popular horses in training when providing Cork trainer Michael Winters with a second success in the Galway Hurdle in 2013, the year after Rebel Fitz's success saw Winters held aloft by a rapturous Galway crowd.

Raced by owner-breeder Vanessa Hutch, Missunited proved equally adept on the Flat, only narrowly being denied by Leading Light in the 2014 Ascot Gold Cup and winning the Group 3 Lillie Langtry Stakes at Goodwood in the same season on what proved to be her final start.

Missunited was covered in her first two seasons by Sea The Stars, which also resulted in a yearling filly by the sire, named Au Clair De Lune, while she visited Derby hero Golden Horn earlier this year.

Eagles By Day was picked up by Joe Foley on behalf of Clipper Logistics for 125,000gns from Whispering Grass Stud at the 2016 Tattersalls December Foal Sale, while his year-younger sister was knocked down to agent Mick Flanagan for 72,000gns at the same sale the following year.

Hutch also bred Missunited's dam Let's Clic Together, a half-sister to German Group 3 winner Hoyer and Italian Listed scorer Sighisca, with that trio out of Mombones, a half-sister to Hungerford Stakes winner Court Chad and Lincoln Handicap hero King's Ride - an influential jumps sire noted as the damsire of Cue Card.

Eagles By Day holds an entry for next year's Derby, a race won previously by Sea The Stars and his son Harzand.

Missunited's trainer Michael Winters the centre of attention in the Galway parade ringCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

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